“Done? Just like that? What’s the meaning—”

 “It just occurred to me that you are, as usual, absolutely right,” he interrupted, never taking his eyes off Nicole, as if afraid she might disappear. “And I will endeavor to do what’s best for the family. Now, if you will excuse me…” He stalked off, nearly knocking the glasses from Grant’s hands as he returned.

 When Nicole spotted him, her eyes widened in astonishment. Distress rang in her voice. “Derek!”

 She caught herself, and looked around at the surprised faces of her acquaintances. “Uh, Lord Stanhope. We hadn’t expected to be honored with your presence this evening,” she said, her empty pleasantry more even with each word.

 “Care for a stroll?” he asked, as he bent down to secure her arm.

 “Well, I don’t believe—” Nicole started airily, but he pulled her up from her seat on a settee and along to the terrace.

 “Sutherland!” she said, once he’d maneuvered them outside. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? You don’t go to these things. I heard you didn’t attend these functions!”

 “I could ask the same of you. When did sailors start making Lady Crossman’s eminence list?”

 Her eyes slitted as she answered, “I have as much right to be here as you do, maybe more.”

 “That’s right. Seems you rank above even me in the hierarchy. You must have been amused when I accused you of trying to bag an earl.”

 She tilted her head side to side. “Well, there was a pleasing sense of irony about it, yes,” she said.

 “It’s the perfect cover—Lady Christina living a quiet life in finishing school on the Continent, never visiting because she’s afraid to travel, but finally coming back to live with her grandmother. I’d wager Lady Christina’s shyness makes it difficult to get any information about her because she doesn’t accept many visitors.”

 Nicole assumed a bored pose. “So you’ve figured us out. Shall I clap?”

 “I thought I knew you,” he said with a rough smile. “You rub one foot against the opposite calf when you’re nervous. You angle your head when curious.” He leaned in near her ear, his voice low as he said, “And when I bring you to pleasure, your little toes curl.”

 She jumped away from him, shivering. “Are you quite through?”

 He reached for her gloved hand, but she moved closer to the railing as though averse to his touch. A cold mask fell into place on her striking features. “Give me one reason why you feel you’re entitled to even a second of my time.”

 He took a deep breath. “I need to explain some things—”

 “You think?” she cut in bitterly.

 This was not going as planned. He’d hoped she’d be somewhat glad to see him—hoped she’d missed him enough to at least listen to an explanation. “Do you even want to know why I left?”

 “Oh, I believe I know why,” she assured him as she turned to go.

 When he grasped her arm again, she struggled to fling him away. “Let me go,” she said with such venom in her voice, he almost did.

 “Not until you let me explain.”

 She pulled away again, trying to get someone’s attention through the corridor.

 “Who are you looking for? One of your young pups?”

 She smiled then. “I’ll most likely marry one of those men.”

 “The hell you will!”

 “And why not? You still don’t think I’m good enough?”

 “That’s not it.”

 “Then what is?”

 Before he could stop himself, he grated, “Because you’re going to be my wife.”

 Her eyes widened, then glittered in anger. “Well, that’s a rapid turnover. Word has it you just got rid of the last one.”

 “So you know?”

 “Everyone knows.” She looked down and smoothed the flounces on her skirt with snappish, overly crisp motions.

 “Give me a chance to explain that. Please,” he added at her uncompromising look.

 “What’s to explain? We were together for that long, and you never told me you were married.”

 “You never told me you were heir to one of the wealthiest houses in England.”

 “That’s not the same! I didn’t hurt you by my omission.”

 He exhaled and reached for her hand. “You’re right.”

 She looked startled that he’d agreed, but masked it quickly. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. Nothing can excuse the way you treated me.” Her eyes became suspiciously bright. “Leave me alone,” she demanded, and tried to free her hand.

 When he held her firm, she brought the heel of her slipper down on his instep and jerked away at the same time, immediately fleeing to the ladies’ retiring room.

 He hurried after her, indifferent to the scene. At the doorway, he accosted the squat matron standing attendance.

 “Does this room have another way out?” he barked.

 “Really, Stanhope, the nerve—”

 “Does it or not?” he ground out.

 “Yes!”

 He ran out the patio doors and along the side of the building to find the door to the retiring room. He didn’t have to look for long before he saw Nicole, skirts hiked, barreling out into the street. He had to smile. Even dressed like royalty, underneath she was his irrepressible Nicole. His heavy footfalls echoed on the street as he gained on her.

 Until she reached Mayfair, turned a corner, and ran directly up the front steps of what had to be the largest mansion on the square.

 Derek stared, marveling at the luxurious home. How had Nicole ever gotten comfortable in this place dripping with money? He followed up the steps and banged the massive brass knocker, waiting impatiently until an elderly butler answered.

 “I would like to see…Lady Christina.”

 “My lady does not receive visitors at this hour,” he answered on a whistling breath. “Would you care to leave a card?”

 “No, I want to see her.”

 The man shuffled his feet. “My lady does not receive—”

 “So be it,” Derek interrupted, easily pushing past the old man, only to be greeted by two huge footmen who did not look happy. Wasn’t that a measure of status, how large your footmen were? If so, he thought as they grabbed his arms, it would appear the marchioness was doing exceedingly well. He was fighting to shake them off when a dull thump sounded from the second floor.

 She was there, rising with the book she’d just dropped. Her hand flew over her mouth until she yanked it to her side. The two footmen also turned to the noise, so Derek was able to steal a fleeting look at her. She’d risen to her full height, standing proudly and acting unconcerned.

 A corner of his lip quirked up. She was his . The fact that she didn’t even realize she would be married to him within a fortnight made him grin. He smiled even as the two men were shoving him out the doors.

 “Look for me, Nicole,” he called over his shoulder. “I’ll be everywhere you are until you agree to talk to me. This is just beginning.”

 Chapter 27

 Early the next morning, Derek gulped down coffee, eager to ride to Atworth House, but his mother stopped him. “I need to talk to you.”

 He shook his head. “It can wait.”

 She maneuvered in front of him. “No! It can’t.”

 He scowled at her, but she was undeterred. “I want to tell you that there’s no excuse for your behavior last night. Manhandling Lady Christina like that! I saw you force her onto the balcony. I saw her trying to get away from you. I know you’ve been through a lot, but you have to start taking responsibility for your actions. Nothing can excuse your behavior.”

 “She’s Nicole Lassiter.”

 Amanda frowned, then made a choking sound. “Wh-what? You can’t be serious,” she cried. “She’s the little wharf rat you’ve been mooning over since you got back? That’s impossible!”

 “She spent months on my ship. I think I’d recognize her.”

 Grant came bounding down the stairs. “Who spent months on your ship?” he asked, pouring himself coffee at the sideboard.

 “I believe we are speaking of Lady Christina,” Amanda supplied in an uneven voice.

 Grant frowned. “Lady Christina—”

 “Is Nicole Lassiter,” Amanda finished.

 Grant looked as though he was choking on laughter. “Lady Christina is Lassiter’s daughter? You’re marrying Lassiter’s daughter?” He shook his head and chuckled.

 “If she’ll have me.”

 “You’ll be related to her father forever,” Grant pointed out, wiping his eyes. “How will you handle that?”

 With a pained expression, Derek said, “I will do what I have to do.”

 Amanda broke in, “These might all be empty musings—she doesn’t exactly appear matrimonially bent on you.”

 “She found out I was married.”

 “Wait, I was there,” Grant said. “Lydia slithered up to Lady Christina and explained that she was the countess of Stanhope.”

 Lydia and Nicole together? “What was Nicole’s reaction?”

 “She fainted dead away.”

 Derek ran a hand over his face. Christ, he would have spared her that. He had to see her and explain.

 Amanda put her hand on his forearm. “Derek, listen to me. I don’t know everything that’s happened, but you can’t just run off like this.”

 “Like what?”

 Grant was clearly pleased to answer, “You missed a spot shaving, and your boots don’t match.”

 He scowled down at his boots but continued to the door.

 “Whatever has happened between you and the girl doesn’t make it right to go to Atworth House looking like that.”

 He could admit that he hadn’t gotten very far in the planning stage, since he’d been floored by finally finding her. But he…missed her, and knowing she wasn’t even a mile away was making him crazed.